Chasowa family still demand justice as case stalls

The family of Robert Chasowa, a university student who was murdered in 2011, is still demanding for justice, saying the want to see the case gets to its logical conclusion.

Chasowa, who was a political activist and dealt with senior police officers including the former inspector general of police, Peter Mukhito, in trying to stop street demonstrations against former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika, was in September 2011 brutally murdered.

“I want to know what crime Robert committed to deserve such a brutal death. That is what I am interested in,” said Chasowa’s father.

Kalemba: Case stalls

He was found dead at the Polytechnic campus.

The trial of suspects has stalled despite Police handing over the file.to the Director of Public Prosecutions Bruno Kalemba.

Following the release of the report of Chasowa commission of inquiry headed by Justice Andrew Nyirenda, police in October 2012 arrested people, mostly members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) whose names were mentioned in the report.

Those arrested, but are currently on bail, included DPP executive member and now MP Noel Masangwi and DPP youth director Lewis Ngalande.

Among suspects who were arrested in connection with the murder of Chasowa included police officers from the Southern Region offices.

Some of those arrested in connection to his death include boxing promoter, Mike “Bangwe One’ Chitenje, Police constable, Stanford Horea, Stoni John and Isaac ‘Mtopwa One’ Osman, Frank Julius, Dolph Geoffrey Botomani and Petros Tembo.

The commission of inquiry named 15 people as possible suspects in the murder of Chasowa.

Chasowa, who studied engineering, was found dead at a college campus Blantyre in September 2011. Police said he had jumped to his death from a five-storey building and produced bogus suicide note as evidence.

But an autopsy report revealed that Chasowa was assaulted to his head by a blunt instrument rather than a fall from a tall building as was claimed by the police.

A Justice Andrew Nyirenda-led inquiry ordered by former president Joyce Banda ruled that Chasowa was murdered.